USE OF RANDOM REGRESSION MODELS FOR ESTIMATION OF GENETIC PARAMETERS IN TABAPUÃ CATTLE

Abstract In this study 28,643 weight records taken from birth to 660 days of age from 6,471 animals of the Tabapuã zebu breed were used to estimate (co)variance components and genetic parameters using a random regression model. The data were analyzed with the DFREML program applying the Restricted Maximum Likelihood method and using an AIREML algorithm. In the models, direct additive genetic, maternal, and permanent environmental (animal and maternal) effects were assumed to be random, contemporary groups were included as fixed effects, and the ages of animal at weighing and of dam at calving were used as covariables. Estimates of direct additive genetic variance increased with age. Heritability estimates for direct additive effect decreased from birth to weaning, whereas estimates of maternal heritability increased over this period and decreased at older ages. Direct genetic correlations ranged from moderate to high, so their magnitudes decreased with greater age gaps between animals. The random regression model used in this study was appropriate to describe changes in variance estimates for weights in Tabapuã cattle raised in the Brazilian state of Bahia.